How do you make a Chinese chicken breast salad? So the chicken breast is super tender and juicy? Stay tuned for a few simple cooking tricks that will make all the difference.
Chinese Chicken Breast Salad Recipe
Serving: 2 to 4
Prep time: 20 minutes
Rest time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
For the chicken breasts:
3 large chicken breasts
4 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
3 slices ginger
2 stalks scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces
For the dressing:
1 1/2 tablespoons sesame seeds
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium red finger hot peppers
2 tablespoons red chili flakes
3 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon Chinkiang vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
For the salad:
1 medium carrot, julienned
1/2 medium cucumber, julienned
1/3 cup cilantro
3 tablespoons toasted peanuts
Chinese Chicken Breast Salad Instructions
To prepare the chicken breasts:
- Slice each chicken breast in halves, lengthwise. Then slice them in halves, crosswise. (This will reduce the brining and cooking time.)
- In a mixing bowl, add water and salt. Whisk.
- Place the chicken breasts inside and brine for 30 minutes. (This is an important cooking trick to help chicken breasts retain moisture and break down proteins, so they are juicy and tender.)
- Remove the chicken breasts and drain.
To cook the chicken breast:
- In a pot of water over high heat, bring it to a boil.
- Turn to the lowest heat, add the chicken breasts, ginger, and scallions. Poach for about 15 minutes. (Low heat poaching is also the key to making the chicken breasts super delicate and tender.)
- Remove the chicken breasts. (At this point, the internal temperature of the chicken should be at least 165 degrees F or 74 degrees C.)
- Let the chicken breasts cool, and shred them into small pieces.
To make the sauce:
- In a bowl, add the sesame seeds, garlic, red finger hot peppers, and red chili flakes (adjust the spiciness based on your preferences).
- In a small pan over high heat, add the oil, and heat it up until smoking hot. Pour the hot oil into the bowl. (This will add a lot of aromas to the sauce. You could also opt it out.)
- Then mix in the Chinkiang vinegar and soy sauce. Whisk.
To assemble the chicken salad:
- In a mixing bowl, toss inside the chicken breasts, carrot, cucumber, cilantro, toasted peanuts, and the sauce. Combine together.
